Redefining Waqf Governance: A Socio-Legal Examination Of The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 - Balancing Religious Rights, State Accountability, And Beneficiary Empowerment
- IJLLR Journal
- 2 hours ago
- 1 min read
Ushmi Bera, Xavier Law School, St. Xavier's University, Kolkata
ABSTRACT
The research paper provides an important socio-legal analysis of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 - a pioneering legislation that seeks to update the rules relating to the administration of Waqf institutions in India. Waqf is a unique concept of an Islamic endowment that has played a very important part in the fields of philanthropy, religion, and education through the ages. It has been governed not according to laws but on the principles of faith. The 2025 amendment has sought to correct the age-old anomalies of misadministration, non-accountability, and lack of transparency. This Act has given the states powers to oversee the administration of the Waqf institutions and also made it obligatory to provide financial disclosure. In this paper, through the analysis of provisions of the Act, the question is explored of whether these amendments have achieved the right balance between the autonomy of the Waqf trusts and state interference to avoid any misappropriation. Through the case laws, precedents, and illustrations, the implications of the amendments for the beneficiaries of Waqf institutions are examined.
